When Novak Djokovic hit back at reporter for asking questions on his on-court outbursts

Serbian tennis ace Novak Djokovic venting out his frustration on tour during matches is not new. The world number one has a long history of smashing racquets on court particularly during Grand Slam tournaments.

On Sunday, Djokovic’s temper resulted in his disqualification from US Open 2020 after he accidentally hit a line judge with a tennis ball in frustration during his round 4 match at Flushing Meadows.

The incident could have turned ugly but thankfully, the female line judge recovered from the blow on her throat. Djokovic apologised for his behaviour and pleaded that he didn’t do it intentionally but the tournament officials were having none of it.

The Grand Slam rules state: “Players shall not at any time physically abuse any official, opponent, spectator or other person within the precincts of the tournament site.

“The referee, in consultation with the Grand Slam chief of supervisors may declare a default for either a single violation of this code.”

Djokovic later issued an apology on social media. But fact of the matter is that this was long due.

Djokovic has always been in the news for his on-court outbursts and it was about time something like this happened.

Djokovic had done something similar in 2016 during the French Open in Paris but fortunately for him, he escaped getting defaulted after smashing his racquet on court which fell very near a line judge.

Angry @DjokerNole throw his racquet and almost hit a line judge

Djokovic joga a raquete, quase acerta juiz de linha pic.twitter.com/S4RS4EJ0jn

— Break Point (@BreakPointBR) June 2, 2016

He was later questioned about the incident by a reporter after the match which further infuriated Djokovic.

From 2016 pic.twitter.com/RR09XgSWVk

— Matt Roberts (@MattRobertsTTP) September 6, 2020

Even his former coach Boris Becker accepted that Djokovic has this reputation of hitting tennis balls in anger and called the US Open 2020 moment the worst of the 17-time Grand Slam champion’s career.

“Thankfully there were no people, no spectators, but he has a habit sometimes of hitting the ball in the stands. Frustrations started boiling up,” Becker said.

“Maybe leaving the court at the end was the toughest moment in Novak Djokovic’s career,” Becker, a former U.S. Open champion, said.